Partitioned tray structure



April 10, 1934. s. PIKER PARTITIONED TRAY STRUCTURE Filed July 27. 1932 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 10, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to the provision of trays, particularly such trays as are suitable for use in metallic tool or tackle boxes, wherein the main body of the box accommodates relatively larger objects and one or more trays are provided to hold relatively smaller objects. Some times the trays are mounted in the box by a cantilever arrangement which disposes them in a position of ready access when the lid is opened. At other 1 times the trays are otherwise mounted in a box or arranged to be removable therefrom as desired. Since ordinarily these trays are to contain small objects they preferably will be partitioned; but the provision of a satisfactorily cheap and strong partitioned tray has hitherto involved a number of problems. Trays have been made of cut metal parts crimped together or spot welded in position, together with partitions having turned over portions which are spot welded to the sides of the tray. While such a structure is satisfactory from many standpoints, it has two important defects. In the first place, it cannot be made at minimum expense, and in the second place, the partitions are fixed in position and therefore are not adjustable to meet the specific requirements of the user. It will be understood that for different uses, different numbers and positionings of the partitions are required, so that in boxes sold for general use removable and adjustable partitions are highly desirable.

In the ordinary tray it has been found difficult to provide removable or adjustable partitions without undue complications in structure. This has been due in some measure to a lack of adequate resistance to distortion in the walls of trays as ordinarily produced, and also in a large part to the lack of a provision for an adequately simple and inexpensive means of adjustability.

Briefly, in the practice of my invention, I have found that in combination with trays produced by a drawing operation or the like, viz., trays in one piece, and usually with reinforcements for stiffening the walls thereof, as will hereinafter be more fully explained, I can provide a very simple partition element and a very simple and easily produced configuration in the side walls of the tray which will permit the positioning of the partition at the various desired points.

The general object of my invention therefore,

is the provision of improvements in the structure of metallic trays with the same specific object of producing an economical and simple construction, permitting the adjustment of the positions of partition members, and/or the use of different numbers of partition elements. These and other objects of my invention which will be set forth hereinafter, or will be apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading these specifications, I accomplish by that certain construction and arrangement of parts of which I shall now describe a preferred embodiment.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 shows the preferred embodiment of my tray in plan, together with a partial showing of a box with which it is associated.

Fig. 2 shows my tray in perspective.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view through a wall thereof taken along the lines 44 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a partition member.

As hereinabove indicated, I preferably form my tray of one piece of metal in a drawing operation. The tray comprises a bottom member 1, side members 2 and 5 and end members 6 and '7. I prefer to provide rounded edge portions and corners upon my tray at the junctures of the aforementioned elements; and I also prefer for reasons hereinafter to be explained, to form the tray in such a way that the side and end members meet the bottom member at obtuse angles. Finally, I prefer to form my tray with flanges at the top edges thereof indicated at 8 and 9 for the side flanges, and 10 and 11 for the end flanges. These flanges provide a stiffening function which is quite valuable in connection with the retention of the partition members. If the tray is to be employed in connection with a metallic box so as to be removable therefrom, it is convenient to provide the end flanges with turned over portions or lips 12 and 13, forming a hook like structure for suspending the tray upon the tops of the end walls of the box indicated in dotted lines in Figures 1 and 3 at 14.

In spite of the stiffening function of the side flanges 8 and 9, I am enabled to insert partition members between the side walls and rely upon the resilience of the side walls to hold them in position, because the side Walls converge from the side flanges toward the bottom. Thus, although the side flanges stiffen the upper edges of the walls and make the retention of the partition members quite positive, the transverse resilience of the side walls themselves is sufficient to permit the insertion and removal of the partitions.

The partition member is shown at 15 in Fig.

5. It is a plate of metal of the same general shape and configuration as a transverse crosssection of the tray and to which it is to be placed. The bottom edge 16, will in this instance, be shorter than the top edge 17, and the side edges 18 and 19 will meet the bottom edge at obtuse angles, the corners of the plate being rounded. Intermediate the ends of the side edges 18 and 19, I provide rounded protuberances 20 and 21, the function of which is to locate the partition positively with respect to indentations in the side walls of my tray and permit the resilient retention of the partition members thereby.

This partition construction, together with the features of the tray hereinabove described, permit me to employ a very simple configuration in the side walls of my tray for receiving and holding the partition members. This configuration is an elongated, more or less oval shaped depression 22, shown in elevation in Figure 3, and in cross-section in Figure 4. It may be made by any process desired, but is conveniently made by a tool having a relatively sharp edge. The depression, because of the resilience of the side walls need not be very deep. It may be formed by a peening tool without breaking the metal, or it may be formed by a sharper tool with a slight breaking of the metal as indicated at 23 in Fig. 4. Any desired number of these depressions may be made in any side wall or even in an end wall if longitudinal partitions are desired; and of course, the number of depressions in any side or end Wall, will be matched by an equal number of oppositely disposed depressions in the other side or end wall. One or more partition members may be placed in the tray engaging opposite depressions in side or end walls; and While the partition member is resiliently and removably held, it will be found to be quite firmly fixed in position and not liable to accidental dislodgment. Moreover, the partitions may be removed and reinserted as many times as desired without losing their firmness of adjustment.

The converging character of the side and end walls of my tray makes it possible to insert my partitions against the transverse resilience of the side or end walls while making it possible for me to stiiien these Walls against permanent displacement by the flange members 8 and e or 10 and 11. The construction in itself is exceedingly simple and economical, and has been found to be entirely serviceable in commercial use.

It will be understood that modifications may be made in my invention without departing from the spirit thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a tray structure oppositely disposed walls converging toward a bottom member, said walls stiifened against permanent displacement, a par-. tition member, oppositely disposed depressions of a length that is less than the height of said walls in said walls and oppositely disposed protuberances on said partition member adapted to enter said depressions, said depressions being disposed midway between the top and bottom of the side walls.

2. In a metallic tray structure, oppositely disposed walls converging from their top edges toward the bottom, stiffening flanges on the upper edges of said walls, preventing distortion of said walls and limiting the resilience thereof to a slight transverse flexing intermediate the edges of said walls, oppositely disposed depressions of a length that is less than the height of said walls in said walls, a partition member adapted to span the space between said walls and having portions to engage in said depressions, said depressions being disposed midway between the top and bottom of the side walls.

3. In combination with a tray structure having a bottom, side and end walls, formed in one piece and without seams, an opposite pair of said walls meeting said bottom at obtuse angles and converging toward said bottom, a partition member of a size and shape to partition said tray between said walls, said partition member having endwise disposed rounded projections on its sides, midway between the top and bottom thereof, and oppositely disposed depressions in said walls in which said projections are adapted to be resiliently engaged.

4. In combination with a tray structure having a bottom, side and end walls, formed in one piece and without seams, an opposite pair of said walls meeting said bottom at obtuse angles and converging toward said bottom, a partition member of a size and shape to partition said tray between said walls, said partition member having endwise disposed rounded projections on its sides, and oppositely disposed depressions in said walls in which said projections are adapted to be resiliently engaged, said walls having continuously formed stifiened flanges at their upper edges angularly disposed thereto.

5. In combination with a tray structure having a bottom, side and end walls, formed in one piece and without seams, an opposite pair of said walls meeting said bottom at obtuse angles and converging toward said bottom, a partition member of a size and shape to partition said tray between said Walls, said partition member having endwise disposed rounded projections on its sides, and oppositely disposed depressions in said walls in which said projections are adapted to be resiliently engaged, said Walls having a plurality of said depressions oppositely disposed whereby said partition member may be adjustably positioned.

6. In combination with a drawn metal tray having a bottom and side and end walls joining said bottom at obtuse angles and converging toward said bottom, reinforcing members on the upper edges of said walls, oppositely disposed depressions of a length that is less than the height of said walls in an opposed pair of said Walls, a partition member adapted to span the space between said walls and having projections adapted to enter said depressions, said partition member being of plate form and said projections being narrow and rounded, said depressions being of elongated form.

7. In combination with a drawn metal tray having a bottom and side and end walls joining said bottom at obtuse angles and converging toward said bottom, reinforcing members on the upper edges of said walls, oppositely disposed depressions in the face of an opposed pair of said walls, a partition member attached to span the space between said Walls and having projections adapted to enter said depressions, said partition member being of plate form and said projections being narrow and rounded, said depressions being of elongated form and substantially oval configuration.

8. In combination with a drawn metal tray having a bottom and side and end walls joining said bottom at obtuse angles and converging toward said bottom, reinforcing members on the upper edges of said walls, oppositely disposed depressions of a length that is less than the height of said walls in an opposed pair of said walls, a partition member attached to span the space between said walls and having projections adapted to enter said depressions, said partition member being of plate form and said projections being narrow and rounded.

SIDNEY PIKER. 

